Robins captain to receive a 2010 Black Engineer of Year award Published Feb. 19, 2010 By Lanorris Askew 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- A U-2/Global Hawk airframe engineer in the 560th Aircraft Sustainment Group is the winner of a 2010 'Black Engineer of the Year' award. Capt. Nicholas Battle won the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Global Competitiveness Conference award in the Modern-Day Technology Leader category. "It is still a shock," said Battle, who will receive the award later today at the annual STEM Global Competitiveness Conference in Baltimore, Md. "(But) It feels great to win and have the possibility to meet one of my military and engineering heroes at the ceremony, Gen. (retired) Lester Lyles." Battle said he knew early in life he wanted to be an engineer. "I was always fascinated with cars and began modifying car engine parts around the age of 15," he said. "Mechanical Engineering fit the mold ... allowing me do "hands-on" work while applying sound engineering judgment. "I love being an engineer, and I have always lived by the rule that if you do something you love for work, you will have never worked a day in your life," he said. Battle also said he credits winning the award to the help of many others. "I owe winning to the great teams and organizations I have worked with and for," he said. "Without the hard work of my teammates and my leadership, this would not have happened."